Synopsis
Significant consolidation has occurred in Nigeria’s Internet and broadband sector, from over 400 ISPs three years ago to around 130 in early 2012. New powerful players from the fixed-wireless and mobile network operator camps have entered the market with 3G mobile and advanced wireless broadband services such as WiMAX. The Internet Protocol (IP)-based next generation networks currently being rolled out are enabling converged voice, data/Internet and video services. VoIP is already carrying the bulk of Nigeria’s international voice traffic. The arrival of a second international submarine fibre-optic cable (Glo-1) in 2009 and a third in 2010 (Main One) has broken the monopoly of Nitel’s notorious SAT-3/WASC cable and is revolutionising the market by reducing the cost of international bandwidth by up to 90%. Two additional cables are expected to go online in 2012. Supported by the expansion of several competing national fibre backbone networks, applications such as e-commerce, online banking and e-payments, e-health, e-learning and e-government are rapidly evolving.
Companies covered in this report:
- Nitel;
- Cyberspace;
- Hyperia;
- Linkserve;
- 21st Century Technologies;
- PINET Informatics;
- Odu'a Telecom;
- Swift Networks;
- Startech Connection;
- Netcom Africa;
- MWEB Nigeria;
- Gateway Communications;
- Accelon (Internet Solutions);
- Galaxy Information Technology and Telecommunication;
- Polestar;
- Naija WiFi;
- Suburban Telecom;
- Zinox;
- Direct-on-PC;
- IP Direct;
- Starcomms;
- Layer3;
- Communication Trends Nigeria;
- Entertainment Highway Ltd (HiTV).